CELTIC 1 RANGERS 3: The writing is on the wall for Wilfried Nancy as Rangers come back from behind to deepen the gloom around free-falling champions
There can surely be no more fanciful talk of Wilfried Nancy needing time and space for his creation at Celtic to take shape.
Fini. Terminado. Done. There’s simply no debate to be had. No mitigating argument to be forwarded now.
All that remains to be determined is how quickly the bandage is ripped off by the board and when the start for the new man begins.
Martin O’Neill might want to clear his diary between now and May. In all likelihood, there’s another SOS coming his way in the coming days.
Nine points ahead of Rangers a short while ago, Nancy’s team are now only ahead of their great rivals on goal difference. The rate of decline has truly been extraordinary.
Anyone believing that things could only get better after Nancy lost his first four matches to endure the worst start of any Celtic manager was guilty of wishful thinking.
Youssef Chermiti is hailed after grabbing his second to put Rangers in front for the first time
Wilfried Nancy looked distraught on the touchline as he watched his side implode yet again
Mikey Moore races away in celebration after hitting Rangers’ third and rubber-stamping victory
His record now stands at two wins in eight with 18 goals now conceded. The side’s league form under him is six points from a possible 18. That’s the stuff of a relegation struggle. It won’t have escaped anyone’s notice that O’Neill won seven of his eight matches in interim charge.
The manner of this loss was jarringly familiar for the embattled Celtic manager. As against Hearts and Dundee United, his side played well for 45 minutes only to capitulate.
On Friday, Nancy cited such matches as he begged for time to allow his project to come to fruition. Only a manager whose side are demonstrating tangible signs of progress can be granted such leeway.
Nancy may have done well in Ohio, but he’s clearly in the wrong movie in Glasgow.
This was a landmark victory for Danny Rohl. His side had built up some momentum with just one defeat in 11 games prior to this affair, and it showed.
Second best all over the park in the first half, they trailed through Hyun-jun Yang’s blistering strike and regrouped.
They completely dominated the second half, turning the game on its head through a double from the much-maligned Youssef Chermiti. Mikey Moore’s low strike removed any lingering doubt as to where the three points were heading. Not that there was much of that.
Yang Hyun-jun put Celtic in front with an absolute rocket after they dominated the first half
Rangers still have work to do if they are to rein in Hearts at the top of the table, but there is much to suggest that’s entirely possible. Celtic are becoming less of a concern.
No matter how you packaged it, Nancy opted to go one with one out and-out centre half in Auston Trusty, with Kieran Tierney and Tony Ralston deplored either side of the American in the customary back three.
New loan signing Julian Araujo had to be content with a place on the bench. Yang and Daizen Maeda were tasked with providing the width with Johnny Kenny returning up front.
Rohl left skipper James Tavernier on the bench with Dujon Sterling detailed to nullify Maeda. John Souttar was handed the armband.
There was pace and guile from middle to front in the shape of Moore and Djeidi Gassama. Chermiti, two goals in 21 appearances prior to this, was asked to provide the attacking threat.
Even for such a seismic game, Celtic Park was notably subdued, the inevitable consequence of a deplorable run of form.
Rangers initially kept it that way, keeping the ball well in the opening 10 minutes and frustrating Nancy’s players. It did not last.
Things looked so much better around Celtic Park with the home team one up on their rivals
Celtic quickly asserted their authority on the contest. Arne Engels’ clipped pass released Kenny. The forward put too much on his cross for Maeda.
Rangers started taking unnecessary risks with the attempts of Manny Fernandez to play out from the back causing the visiting pocket of fans anxiety.
Luke McCowan’s shot from the edge of the box was wayward but saw the home supporters belatedly find their voices.
Trusty should have scored when he rose to claim Engels’ corner. Jack Butland was relieved to see his header flash wide.
Although Celtic started to dominate, they weren’t helped by poor passing decisions made by Yang and McCowan with the visiting defence wide open.
A sweeping move involving Tierney, McCowan and Maeda ended with Butland stooping to prevent Kenny’s powerful low strike finding the bottom corner.
When the breakthrough came on 20 minutes, it was not ill-deserved. Yang had been a ball of energy from the start. When he gathered the ball near the touchline, he had no hesitation in going for glory.
Nico Raskin races off to celebrate after team-mate Chermiti had bundled in Rangers’ equaliser
Darting away from Nico Raskin and Thelo Aasgaard, the winger bought himself a look at goal and his strike was instinctive and powerful. Butland may feel he ought to have done better than be beaten at his near post. The sheer velocity of the shot was extraordinary.
Rangers were rattled. In those moments, their midfield was anonymous, their passing dismal.
Yang released Kenny. The Irishman’s hopes of finding the target were thwarted by Souttar.
The one moment of concern for Nancy came when Gassama raced clear. Kasper Schmeichel stood up long enough to ensure he wasn’t chipped by the winger.
Celtic came again. Kenny’s low strike forced an excellent low block from Butland. Yang improvised to head the ball over Butland. Fendandez stretched and prevented the ball crossing the line.
Another fine delivery from Yang set up McCowan. A meek header sailed into Butlands arms.
With Aasgaard on a booking, Rohl replaced the Norwegian with Mohamed Diomande at the break. Rangers also re-emerged with a completely different attitude, levelling the contest within five minutes from a neatly worked throw-in.
Chermiti was given too much room in Celtic’s box as he beat Schmeichel to score his second
Raskin hadn’t done a thing right all day but barrelled his way down the right channel in front of Trusty. He pulled the ball back from the byline. Chermiti could hardly miss from three yards.
Rangers soon had Butland to thank for remaining level, the keeper producing a smart save to prevent Maeda scoring from seven yards. He was also equal to Yang’s header from Engels’ free-kick.
Nancy must have feared that his side’s profligacy would cost them. His heart would have sank when Ralston and McGregor messed up their own throw-in to send Chermiti clear on goal.
Credit to the Portuguese — he still had much work to do. Displaying the kind of composure that’s been so conspicuous by its absence since joining Rangers, he bounded away to clip the ball beyond Schmeichel.
Maeda’s slice might well have brought Celtic immediate parity. In keeping with the way this is all gone, it went just beyond the far post.
The direction of traffic had already changed, though. So meek in the first period, Rangers were now winning every tackle and directing play.
Moore blasts home the final goal of an afternoon that turbo-charged Rangers’ title ambitions
The third goal was in the post. It came when Gassama picked an easy pass to Moore. The forward’s shot lacked purchase but had accuracy. Schmeichel should still have saved it.
From a winning position, it was only then a question of how many Celtic would lose by. They were torn apart time and time again on the back foot and offered little in the final third.
The anger level in the stadium rose and it was aimed exclusively at those sitting in the heated seats.
In all likelihood, Nancy will pay for this latest capitulation with his job. That’s just the ways to goes in football. The architects of the shambles which Celtic has become will sail serenely on.
